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DECISION No. 144/1999/QD-TTg OF JUNE 21, 1999 RATIFYING THE PLAN ON THE CONTROL AND USE OF FLOOD WATER IN MEKONG RIVER DELTA AREA FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOW TO THE YEAR 2010.

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposals of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at Official Dispatch No.328/BNN/KH of January 25, 1999 and the head of State Council for Appraisal of Investment Projects at Official Dispatch No.73/TDNN of June 04, 1999,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To ratify the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta area for the period from now to the year 2010 with the following major contents:

1. Targets: To ensure the safety for human lives, the property of the State and people, to develop the infrastructure, to stabilize people�s life and to make contribution to the socio-economic development of the Mekong River area along the direction of industrialization and modernization.

a) For the shallowly-submerged areas (with the depth of under 1 meter): To excise the control of floods during the year in order to gain initiative in coping with floods and stabilize production, with a view to accelerating the socio-economic growth and rural development rate.

b) For the deeply-submerged areas (with the depth of over 1 meter):

- To control and use flood water in order to restrict the flood water with little alluvium flowing from Cambodia into the area of Dong Thap Muoi, (the Plain of Reed) and Long Xuyen quadrangle; to regulate flood so that it shall partly overflow the frontier into Vam Co River to the West Sea. This is aimed at reducing the depth of flooded areas, while taking alluvium-rich flood water from Tien and Hau Rivers to increase the soil fertility.

- To take initiative in controlling floods according to seasons so as to prevent early-season floods, to create conditions for mechanization of the harvesting process, to ensure safety for harvesting the Summer-Autumn rice; to increase the drainage of flood water, to reduce the flooding depth in the main crop, to prevent season-end floods in proceed with the Winter-Spring rice crop in time, stabilizing the production with two rice crops a year, the Winter-Spring and Summer-Autumn crops.

2. The major solutions: For the shallowly-submerged areas, to invest in the construction of an integrated system of works, associating irrigation with transportation and the construction of population quarters so as to take initiative in controlling floods throughout the year. For deeply-submerged areas, to control floods according to season so as to ensure the safe and stable life for the people in the Mekong River delta, and at the same time, to create good conditions for the socio-economic development, the rural development, the betterment and protection of the ecological environment.

- In the Long Xuyen quadrangle area: To build a network for controlling floods overflowing the frontier and Hau River. To use Vinh Te canal and Tra Su- Tri Ton canal as the two major channels for flood drainage. To build a system of works along the western coast for preventing saline water, keeping and supplying fresh water. To upgrade and set up a system of flood drainage canals in combination with intra-field irrigation and drainage.

- For Dong Thap Muoi area: To build a network for controlling floods overflowing Tan Thanh-Lo Gach frontier; to upgrade and build systems of canals for draining floods into Tien and Vam Co rivers.

- For the western area of Hau river: To control floods throughout the year through:

+ Building a network for controlling floods flowing from Long Xuyen quadrangle area and Hau river into the area.

+ Upgrading flood-draining canals and building a system of projects along Cai Lon river for preventing saline water and keeping fresh water.

- For the area in-between Tien and Hau rivers: To control floods throughout the year for the area in-between Tien and Hau rivers (except for the northern area of Vinh An canal). To build a system of works for flood controlling, alluvium holding in combination with water irrigation and field improvement.

Article 2.- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the agency managing the plan, which has the responsibility to further follow, study and adjust the contents of the plan in order to attain the set objectives; the ministry shall work out a plan to organize and direct the implementation of the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta.

Article 3.- The implementation of the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta for the period from now to the year 2010 must be in line with the contents of Decision No. 99/TTg of February 09, 1996 of the Prime Minister on the long-term orientation and the 1996-2000 five-year plan, regarding the development of irrigation, transportation, and rural development in the Mekong River delta; with the plans of branches as well as with the overall planning for socio-economic development of the Mekong River delta area for the period from now to the year 2010, which has been ratified by the Prime Minister. The control of floods must be combined with the prevention of saline water, the maintenance of fresh-water and the washing away of sourness, the field improvement and the creation of water resources for production and people�s livelihood.

The ministries, concerned branches and the People�s Committees of the Mekong River delta provinces, based on their functions, assigned tasks and competence, shall have to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the implementation of this plan.

Article 4.- This Decision takes effect after its signing.

Article 5.- The ministers, the heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies attached to the Government, the presidents of the People�s Committees of the Mekong River delta provinces shall have to implement this Decision.

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

NGUYEN CONG TAN